Gluten Free Apple Muffins

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If you’re on the hunt for a scrumptious treat that’s not just delicious but also gluten free, you’ve hit the jackpot my friend! Today, we’re diving headfirst into the wonderful world of Gluten Free Apple Muffins. Whether you’re a gluten sensitive superstar or simply on the hunt for a mouth-watering snack, these muffins are about to become your new obsession. Packed with juicy apples, warm spices, a DELICIOUS streusel topping, and a whole lotta love. Get ready to whip up a batch of these irresistible Gluten Free Apple Muffins that’ll have your tastebuds dancing with delight. Happy baking!!

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Ingredients to make Gluten Free Apple Muffins

Let’s break down the superstar ingredients in our Gluten Free Apple Muffin recipe:

Muffin:

Butter (melted): Adds moisture and a rich, buttery flavor to the muffins.

Granulated Sugar: Sweetens the muffins and helps create a tender crumb texture.

Light Brown Sugar: Adds a subtle caramel flavor and moisture to the muffins.

Vegetable Oil: Contributes to the muffins’ moistness and texture.

Vanilla: Infuses a delightful aroma and enhances the overall flavor.

Eggs: Provide structure, moisture, and binding to hold everything together.

Gluten-Free All-Purpose Flour: The main dry ingredient that forms the structure of the muffins without gluten.

Salt: Enhances the flavor and balances sweetness.

Baking Powder: Acts as a leavening agent to make the muffins rise.

Cinnamon: Adds warm, comforting spice notes to complement the apple.

Sour Cream: Gives the muffins a tender, moist crumb.

Honey Crisp Apples: The star of the show! Adds natural sweetness, moisture, and those irresistible apple chunks.

Streusel Topping:

Gluten-Free All-Purpose Flour: Creates a crumbly, crunchy texture on top of the muffins.

Light Brown Sugar: Adds sweetness and a hint of caramel to the streusel.

Granulated Sugar: Provides additional sweetness and texture.

Salt: Balances the sweetness and enhances the flavor.

Butter (melted): Binds the streusel together and creates a buttery, golden topping.

Vanilla: Adds a pleasant aroma and flavor to the streusel.

Cinnamon: Infuses warm, spiced notes into the streusel, perfectly complementing the apple muffins.

Tips for sky high Gluten Free Apple Muffins

Let your batter rest: letting your muffin batter rest helps all the ingredients settle in and rest after mixing. The baking powder starts to do its thing by reacting with the wet ingredients to create air bubbles in your batter, and this aids in your muffins rising BEAUTIFULLY in the oven!

Start with a high temperature: preheat your oven to 425°F and bake the muffins at that temperature for 5-7 minutes. This initial burst of heat encourages rapid rising in your muffins. Then lower the oven to 350°F for the remaining time and remember DO NOT open the oven door! To keep an eye on the temperature in your oven I like to use this Oven Thermometer!

Room temperature ingredients: make sure that your eggs and sour cream are all at room temperature. This helps create a smooth batter and will assist in getting those sky-high muffins!

Avoid overmixing: gently fold the wet and dry ingredients together until just combined. overmixing can deflate your muffins before they even hit the oven. So, a batter that is a little lumpy is actually perfect in this recipe!

Place batter in every other cup: this is a neat little trick; scooping the muffin batter into every other cup of the muffin tin (see photo below) helps the hot oven air circulate around your muffins better. Therefore, creates even baking and helps the muffins rise better!

Overfill the cups: fill your muffins cups to the brim with batter! Don’t be shy; a generous portion of batter helps your muffins rise and creates those lovely, rounded tops.

Quality baking pans: this can make or break ANY of your baked goods. Having good quality baking pans is so important when it comes to getting beautiful baked goods! Check out my video here about why it’s important to have good quality baking pans! Or check out my page here about the baking pans I use in my kitchen. And of course, I never bake any muffins or cupcakes without my favorite cupcake pan from USA Pans.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the secret to moist muffins?

There are 3 important things to ensure your muffins stay moist and delicious:

1. Fat Matters: use a combination of fats like oil and butter. These add moisture and richness to your muffins.
2. Don’t Overmix: mix your batter until the dry ingredients are just moistened. Overmixing can overdevelop gluten and lead to dry muffins.
3. Perfect timing: Bake your muffins for the recommended time in the recipe. Overbaking is a surefire way to end up with dry results.  

Should muffin batter sit before baking?

No, muffin batter does not have to sit before baking. However, you can let it sit for 15-30 minutes which allows the batter to rest and for the leavening to start doing its job. The leavening will start to react with the liquid in the batter creating pockets of air in the batter. These air pockets will then aid in the rising process when your muffins go into the oven! Science is pretty cool when it’s this tasty, right?! I do this trick so that I have beautifully domed muffins and I highly recommend trying it out!

What are the best apples for baking muffins?

When it comes to choosing the best apples for baking muffins, you’ll want varieties that strike the right balance between sweetness and tartness, along with good texture that holds up during baking. Here are some of my top contenders:

• Honeycrisp- a fantastic choice because they’re naturally sweet, crisp, and hold their shape well in muffins.
• Granny Smith- if you prefer a tart contrast to the sweetness of your muffins, go for Granny Smith apples. They’re firm so they maintain their tartness and texture even when baked.
• Fuji- known for their natural sweetness and firm texture, making them a lovely addition to muffins.

Remember, the best apple for your muffins ultimately depends on your personal taste preferences. Feel free to mix and match different apple varieties for a more complex flavor profile!

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